GOSPEL

A light to reveal you to the nations.
Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint Luke 2, 22-35

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: “Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled: my own eyes have seen the salvation which you prepared in the sight of every people, a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.”
The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

The Word of the Lord.

Unsatisfied.

If we were not unsatisfied, we would not move. In this life, we will live with permanent dissatisfaction until our last days. This dissatisfaction, of which we speak, can drag me to despair, because I cannot seem to find what I am looking for, because my desires are not fully satisfied. Our marriage is heading towards a constant search for perfection, for mutual understanding, for that love that never seems to be fully satisfied. The missing piece to stabilize and balance this permanent dissatisfaction is called Hope. The Song of Songs reflects very well that beautiful search between the lover and the beloved that does not cease, but always hopes to reach the summit. Simeon’s key was that, the Hope that arises from faith and leads to peace.

Applied to married life:

Almudena: I feel like giving up. I don’t know what else to do for our marriage. And it seems like my husband doesn’t care at all, he does nothing, doesn’t make an effort, I always have to do everything… Marriage mentor: We believe you need more hours of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. Almudena: But what does that have to do with it? The problem is with my husband, he’s not making an effort. Marriage mentor: That’s what you believe, the problem is that you lack faith, and that’s why you’re losing hope. You base your arguments on your efforts, on what you do, on what your husband does, and you don’t realize that your marriage is a work of God. You lack faith. Trust us. Adore the Blessed Sacrament and you’ll see. (A few weeks later) Almudena: You were right. I felt so small by His side… Thank you. I have renewed my sacrament with a renewed hope.

Mother,

We have faith, but increase our faith to continue living our vocation with Hope and reach peace. Praise the Lord. Only He is enough.